Oregon Massage Therapists Association

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History

The Oregon Massage Technicians Association was formed in early 1985 when the Oregon Legislature was preparing a Sunset Review of the Oregon Board of Massage Technicians (OBMT).

A group of LMTs formed a professional corporation and communicated with massage technicians throughout the State of Oregon. On March 14, 1985, Susan Kerr Shawn, Doug Montgomery, Jo White and Ray Siderius signed the Articles of Incorporation, and the Oregon Massage Technicians Association was born. This early effort helped retain the Massage Board and our licensing process, as well as raising our professional standards.

Since that early effort, we have grown into a well-defined, articulate professional organization.

A variety of member services have been developed, including: Touchstone (our professional journal), a membership directory and this website.

We have sponsored several major information and educational conferences and a number of professional workshops.

A less tangible but no less important outcome of our organization is stimulating and supporting our visionary process. Questions are raised about the future of massage, our place in the workforce, our professional standards and our ideals. Through discussion, controversy and action, a greater recognition of our interdependence as a community is born.

The OBMT changed our licensing title from Technicians to Therapists, on April 6, 2001, we changed our name to the Oregon Massage Therapists Association.

Website History
In early 1997, the Executive Committee authorized Matthew Starrett-Bigg, a Portland massage therapist, to create a website for OMTA. The site went live on May 14, 1997. The original URL was http://www.altmedweb.com/~mattlmt/omta. Whew.

In 1999, Larry Park, our Membership Director, offered to create a website for OMTA. Larry secured the name, www.omta.net, and created a good stand-alone website, with basic info, a list of members and their businesses.

In 2002, Robert Bike took over, and the position of Webmaster was created on the Associate Executive Committee. Robert added all of OMTA's public documents, the library, and multiple ways to find LMTs in our Massage Finder.

In 2010, Heather Bennouri moved the membership management processes online. Wild Apricot was chosen as the membership hosting site and software tools. This allowed individuals to apply for membership online, online renewals, online event registrations, and the ability for members to actively manage their personal information directly. All of the material from the previous web site was migrated to the Wild Apricot "backbone" and new material was added as well.

Executive Committee History of Officers

1985

President	Susan Kerr (Shawn)
Vice-President	Mary Smith
Treasurer	Ron Rathburn
Secretary	Mara Nesbitt
Relief Secretary	Terry Miller

1986

President	Susan Kerr (Shawn)
Vice-President	Mary Smith
Treasurer	Ron Rathburn
Secretary	Kay Miller

1987

President	Susan Kerr (Shawn)
Vice-President	Beverly Reeves
2nd Vice-President	Mary Smith
Treasurer	Kathleen Sullivan
Secretary	Susan Hill

1988

President	Beverly Reeves
Vice-President	Jan Monical
2nd Vice-President	Susan Hill
Treasurer	Kathleen Sullivan
Secretary	Adela Basayne-Smith

1989

President	Kathleen Sullivan
Vice-President	Janet Williams
2nd Vice-President	Adela Basayne-Smith
Treasurer	Liz Addis
Secretary	Barbara Feller

1990

President	Kathleen Sullivan
Vice-President	Chaim Sil
2nd Vice-President	Sande Maxwell
Treasurer	Marvin Lindquest
Secretary	Julia Stephens
Membership	Barbara Feller

1991

President	Sande Maxwell
Vice-President	Chaim Sil
2nd Vice-President	Karen Davis
Treasurer	Marvin Lindquest
Secretary	Deb Thomas
Membership	Myk Walker*, Ute Munger
Relief Secretary	Ann Marie Maurer

* denotes partial year

1992

President	Chaim Sil
Vice-President	Sande Maxwell
2nd Vice-President	Deb Thomas
Treasurer	Karen Davis
Secretary	Cliff Williams
Membership	Ute Munger

1993

President	Chaim Sil
Vice-President	Tom Miller
2nd Vice-President	Deb Thomas
Treasurer	Karen Davis
Secretary	Lynn Van Norman
Membership	Ute Munger

1994

President	Norma Peterson
Vice-President	Tom Miller
2nd Vice-President	Sande Maxwell
Treasurer	Marsha Akers
Secretary	Lynn Van Norman
Membership	Sharon Jakeways

1995

President	Norma Peterson
Vice-President	Susan Shawn
2nd Vice-President	Sande Maxwell
Treasurer	Dolores Emmenegger
Secretary	Annie Cook
Membership	Sharon Jakeways

1996

President	Annie Cook
Vice-President	Susan Shawn
2nd Vice-President	Paul Burris*
Treasurer	Dolores Emmenegger
Membership	Toni Bailie
Secretary	Sharon DeBusk

* denotes partial year

1997

President	Annie Cook
Vice-President	Patty Blakeley
2nd Vice-President	Dee Stubblefield
Treasurer	Dolores Emmenegger
Membership	Toni Bailie
Secretary	Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Susan Shawn

1998

President	Dee Stubblefield
Vice-President	Patty Blakeley
2nd Vice-President	Sharon Jakeways
Treasurer	Stephanie Park
Membership	Larry Park
Secretary	Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Norma Peterson

1999

President	Dee Stubblefield
Vice-President	Katrina Rae-Morin*
2nd Vice-President	Sharon Jakeways
Treasurer	Stephanie Park
Membership	Larry Park
Secretary	Julie Lindsay*, Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie

* denotes partial year

2000

President	Sharon Jakeways
Vice-President	Katrina Rae-Morin*
2nd Vice-President	Kristin Wright
Treasurer	Mary Kirkpatrick
Membership	Larry Park*, Stephanie Park
Secretary	Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Regional Manager	Pam Baer
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Student Coordinator	Dave Sharon

* denotes partial year

2001

President	Sharon Jakeways
Vice-President	Kristin Wright
Treasurer	Mary Kirkpatrick
Membership	Marie Levering
Secretary	Cindy Varvais
Directory Editor	Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Regional Manager	Pam Baer
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Student Coordinator	Dave Sharon

2002

President	Sharon Jakeways
Vice-President	Kristin Wright
Treasurer	Cathy Petersen
Membership	Marie Levering
Secretary	Cindy Varvais
Directory Editor	Robert Bike
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Coordinator, Bend	Cindy Varvais
Area Coordinator, Roseburg	Mary Kirkpatrick

2003

President	Cindy Varvais
Vice-President	Rachel Smith
Treasurer	Cathy Petersen
Membership	Marie Levering
Secretary	*
Directory Editor	Meggan Uecker
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Coordinator, Bend	Cindy Varvais
Area Coordinator, Eugene	Melody Gandy
Area Coordinator, Roseburg	Mary Kirkpatrick
Area Coordinator, Springfield	Sharon Jakeways
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

*Duties rotated within the EC

2004

President	Cindy Varvais
Treasurer	An'daesha K'Treva
Membership	Brenda Schneider
Secretary	Cynthia Mallea*, EC
Directory Editor	Meggan Uecker
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Coordinator, Bend	Cindy Varvais
Area Coordinator, Eugene	Melody Gandy
Area Coordinator, Roseburg	Mary Kirkpatrick
Area Coordinator, Springfield	Sharon Jakeways
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

* denotes partial year (resigned in February, rest of EC rotated as Secretary)

2004-2005

President	Melody Gandy
Vice-President	Bruno De Block
Treasurer	An'daesha K'Treva
Membership	Brenda Schneider
Secretary	Heather Bennouri
Directory Editor	Meggan Uecker
Librarian	Sharon Jakeways
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Coordinator, Bend	Cindy Varvais
Area Coordinator, Eugene	Melody Gandy
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

2005-2006

President	Melody Gandy
Vice-President	Bruno De Block
Treasurer	Sharon Jakeways
Membership	Brenda Schneider
Secretary	Heather Bennouri
Directory Editor	Emden Griffin
Librarian	Sharon Jakeways, Kathy Hensley
Touchstone Editor	Toni Bailie
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke Hensley
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Representative, Bend	Cindy Varvais
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

* denotes partial year

2006-2007

President	Bruno DeBlock
Vice-President	Emden Griffin
Treasurer	Sharon Jakeways, Michael Jordan
Membership	Brenda Schneider
Secretary	Heather Bennouri
Directory Editor	Emden Griffin
Librarian	Kathy Hensley
Touchstone Editor	Heather Bennouri
Volunteer Coordinator	Kathy Paschelke Hensley
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Representative, Albany	Larry Johnson
Area Representative, Ashland	Ramah Rosenquist
Area Rep, Eugene/Springfield	Melody Gandy
Area Representative, Portland	Heather Bennouri
Area Representative, Roseburg	Carol Duncan
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

2007-2008

President	Bruno DeBlock
Vice-President	Emden Griffin
Treasurer	Brenda Schneider
Membership	Heather Bennouri
Secretary	Carol Corey*
Librarian	Kathy Hensley
Touchstone Editor	Heather Bennouri
Advertising Manager	Daisy Talbado
Volunteer Coordinator	Emden Griffin
Webmaster	Robert Bike
Area Representative, Albany	Larry Johnson
Area Representative, Portland	Heather Bennouri
Area Representative, Roseburg	Carol Duncan
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

2008-2009

President	Robert Bike
Vice-President	Daisy Talbado+++
Treasurer	Brenda Schneider
Membership	Heather Bennouri
Secretary	Carol Corey, Rowan Varvais*
Librarian	Kathy Hensley, Bruno DeBlock
Touchstone Editor	Heather Bennouri
Advertising Manager	Daisy Talbado +++
Volunteer Coordinator	Emden Griffin
Webmaster	Robert Bike
State Coordinator	Carol Duncan
Area Representative, Albany	Larry Johnson
Area Representative, Eugene	Mike Pooler+
Area Representative, Newport	Rose Jade++
Area Representative, Portland	Heather Bennouri
Area Representative, Roseburg	Carol Duncan
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

* resigned 10/29/2008; **inducted 11/8/2008
+as of 4/19/2009, ++resigned 5/23/2009, +++resigned 9/24/09

2009-2010

President	Robert Bike
Vice-President	Carol Duncan
Treasurer	Kami Manselle
Membership	Heather Bennouri
Secretary	Joni Kutner
Librarian	Bruno DeBlock
Touchstone Editor	Heather Bennouri
Volunteer Coordinator	Emden Griffin
Webmaster	Robert Bike
State Coordinator	Emden Griffin
Area Representative, Albany	Larry Johnson
Area Representative, Eugene	Mike Pooler
Area Representative, Hillsboro	Neva Winters
Area Representative, Portland	Heather Bennouri
Area Representative, Roseburg	Carol Duncan
OMTA Store	Kristin Wright

2011-2012

President	Patty Glenn
Vice-President
Treasurer	vacant
Membership
Secretary	S. Heather Bennouri
Publications Editor	S. Heather Bennouri
Librarian	Robert Bike

2012-2013

President	Robert Bike (interim appointment)
Vice-President	Melody Morton Gandy (interim appointment)
Treasurer	vacant
Membership	Sharon Jakeways (interim appointment)
Secretary	S. Heather Bennouri
Librarian	Robert Bike
Publications Editor	Donovan Monroe
Assistant Publications Editor	S. Heather Bennouri
Webmaster	S. Heather Bennouri

2013

President	Melody Morton Gandy
Vice-President	vacant
Treasurer	vacant
Membership	Sharon Jakeways (interim appointment)
Secretary	S. Heather Bennouri
Publications Editor	Donovan Monroe
Assistant Publications Editor	S. Heather Bennouri
Webmaster	S. Heather Bennouri

2014-Present

OMTA is now being run by its Past Presidents Council, Melody Morton Gandy and Robert Bike.

Annual Conference Themes, 1985-2010

Year	Location	Date	Theme
1985	Breitenbush	Oct. 4-6	Neck, low back, shoulders & feet
1986	Breitenbush	Oct. 24-26	OMTA Belongs to All of Us
1987	Breitenbush	Oct. 23-25	Balance and Well-Being
1988	Breitenbush		Legislative Strategy
1989	Breitenbush	Oct. 6-8	Coming to Healing
1990	Camp Westwind	Oct. 12-14
1991	Lost Valley	Cancelled
1992	Breitenbush	Oct. 2-4	Culturally Diverse
1993	Breitenbush	Oct. 29-31	Massage Exchange
1994	Marylhurst	Oct. 22-24	Re-Membering the First Ten Years
1995	Breitenbush	Sept. 29-Oct. 1	Discovering Massage as Teacher: The Spirit of Massage
1996	Breitenbush	Oct. 4-6	Moving Into Action
1997	Breitenbush	Oct. 3-5	Focus on Touch: The Energy of Rejuvenation and Grounding
1998	Breitenbush	Oct. 2-4	Communication, Community & Change
1999	Breitenbush	Oct. 8-10	Massage in the Next Millenium
2000	Breitenbush	Oct. 6-8	Healing Ourselves Through Transitions and Chaos
2001	Breitenbush	Oct. 5-7	Renew - Rejuvenate - Rejoice
2002	Breitenbush	Oct. 4-6	Tools for Transformation
2003	Breitenbush	Oct. 3-5	Manifesting Peace
2004	Breitenbush	Oct. 1-3	Honoring Our Senses
2005	Breitenbush	Sept. 30-Oct. 2	Celebrating 20 Years of OMTA: Changing Lives Through Changing Times
2006	Breitenbush	Oct. 6-8	Rising to Renewed Purpose and Passion
2007	Breitenbush	Oct. 5-7	Inner Peace Through Healing Harmony
2008	Breitenbush	Oct. 3-5	A Time to Heal
2009	Breitenbush	Oct. 2-4	Harvesting Hope
2010	Breitenbush	Oct. 1-3	Journey of the Spirit

OMTA is a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit Corporation. According to the IRS, contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return. They may be deductible as trade or business expenses if ordinary and necessary in the conduct of the taxpayer's business. Contact your tax consultant if this affects you. © 2013 Oregon Massage Therapists Association. This web site is maintained by OMTA's Past Presidents Council.